Active wafer probe

ABSTRACT

A probe suitable for probing a semiconductor wafer that includes an active circuit. The probe may have a rigid probing member and include a flexible interconnection between the active circuit and a support structure. The active circuit may have a relatively low capacitance as seen by the device under test.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/532,756, filed Dec. 24, 2003, and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/589,346, filed Jul. 20, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A probe suitable for probing a semiconductor wafer that includes an active circuit.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There are many types of probing assemblies that have been developed for the measurement of integrated circuits and other forms of microelectronic devices. One representative type of assembly uses a circuit card on which the upper side is formed of elongate conductive traces that serve as signal and ground lines. A central opening is formed in the card, and a needle-like probe tip is attached to the end of each signal trace adjacent the opening so that a radially extending array of downwardly converging needle-like tips is presented by the assembly for selective connection with the closely spaced pads of the microelectronic device being tested. A probe assembly of this type is shown, for example, in Harmon U.S. Pat. No. 3,445,770. This type of probing assembly, however, is unsuitable for use at higher frequencies, including microwave frequencies in the gigahertz range, because at such frequencies the needle-like tips act as inductive elements and because there are no adjoining elements present to suitably counteract this inductance with a capacitive effect in a manner that would create a broadband characteristic of more or less resistive effect. Accordingly, a probing assembly of the type just described is unsuitable for use at microwave frequencies due to the high levels of signal reflection and substantial inductive losses that occur at the needle-like probe tips.

In order to obtain device measurements at somewhat higher frequencies than are possible with the basic probe card system described above, various related probing systems have been developed. Such probing systems are designed to present a typical transmission line impedance, such as 50 ohms, to the device under test. Such systems are shown, for example, in Evans U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,728; Kikuchi Japanese Publication No. 1-209,380; Sang et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,942; Lao et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,243; and Shahriary U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,319. Yet another related system is shown in Kawanabe Japanese Publication No. 60-223,138 which describes a probe assembly having needle-like tips where the tips extend from a coaxial cable-like structure instead of a probe card. A common feature of each of these systems is that the length of the isolated portion of each needle-like probe tip is limited to the region immediately surrounding the device-under-test in order to minimize the region of discontinuity and the amount of inductive loss. However, this approach has resulted in only limited improvement in higher frequency performance due to various practical limitations in the construction of these types of probes. In Lao et al., for example, the length of each needle-like tip is minimized by using a wide conductive blade to span the distance between each tip and the supporting probe card, and these blades, in turn, are designed to be arranged relative to each other so as to form transmission line structures of stripline type. As a practical matter, however, it is difficult to join the thin vertical edge of each blade to the corresponding trace on the card while maintaining precisely the appropriate amount of face-to-face spacing between the blades and precisely the correct pitch between the ends of the needle-like probe tips.

One type of probing assembly that is capable of providing a controlled-impedance low-loss path between its input terminal and the probe tips, such as a typical transmission line impedance, is shown in Lockwood et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,143. In Lockwood et al., a ground-signal-ground arrangement of strip-like conductive traces is formed on the underside of an alumina substrate so as to form a coplanar transmission line on the substrate. At one end, each associated pair of ground traces and the corresponding interposed signal trace are connected to the outer conductor and the center conductor, respectively, of a coaxial cable connector. At the other end of these traces, areas of wear-resistant conductive material are provided in order to reliably establish electrical connection with the respective pads of the device to be tested. Layers of ferrite-containing microwave absorbing material are mounted about the substrate to absorb spurious microwave energy over a major portion of the length of each ground-signal-ground trace pattern. In accordance with this type of construction, a controlled high-frequency impedance (e.g., 50 ohms) can be presented at the probe tips to the device under test.

To achieve improved spatial conformance between the tip conductors of a probe and an array of non-planar device pads or surfaces, several high-frequency probing assemblies have been developed. Such assemblies are described, for example, in Drake et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,612; Coberly et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,523; and Boll et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,964. Similarly, such probing assembly is designed to present a typical transmission line impedance, such as 50 ohms, to the device under test. The Drake et al. probing assembly includes a substrate on the underside of which are formed a plurality of conductive traces which collectively form a coplanar transmission line. However, in one embodiment shown in Drake et al., the tip end of the substrate is notched so that each trace extends to the end of a separate tooth and the substrate is made of moderately flexible nonceramic material. The moderately flexible substrate permits, at least to a limited extent, independent flexure of each tooth relative to the other teeth so as to enable spatial conformance of the trace ends to slightly non-planar contact surfaces on a device-under-test.

With respect to the probing assembly shown in Boll et al., as cited above, the ground conductors comprise a pair of leaf-spring members the rear portions of which are received into diametrically opposite slots formed on the end of a miniature coaxial cable for electrical connection with the cylindrical outer conductor of that cable. The center conductor of the cable is extended beyond the end of the cable (i.e., as defined by the ends of the outer conductor and the inner dielectric) and is gradually tapered to form a pin-like member having a rounded point. In accordance with this construction, the pin-like extension of the center conductor is disposed in spaced apart generally centered position between the respective forward portions of the leaf-spring members and thereby forms, in combination with these leaf-spring members, a rough approximation to a ground-signal-ground coplanar transmission line structure.

A disadvantage of the probes described above is that the relatively low input impedance of the transmission lines (e.g., 50 ohms) results in the possibility that the testing operation might significantly disturb the signal at the probed pads. Further, the probes impose a relatively significant capacitance to the probed pads which tends to likewise alter the signal at the probed pads. Hence, traditional low impedance probes may have adequate electrical transmission characteristics at high frequencies but are unsuitable for many applications because of the loading as a result of the probe on the circuit to be probed.

Gleason et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,627, disclose a wafer probe with a high input impedance that includes a support member having an end region which is shaped to permit the end region to be brought into close proximity with a component under test. An amplifier with a relatively high input impedance is rigidly mounted on the support member at its end region. An elongate “wire-like” conductive probe element is rigidly attached to the amplifier and is electrically connected to the amplifier's input terminal. A transmission line is connected to the amplifier's output terminal, which normally has a typical transmission line impedance such as 50 ohms, for transmitting signals from the amplifier to a measurement instrument.

While the wafer probe of Gleason et al. provides a relatively high input impedance to the device under test, it imposes significant capacitance to the device under test. In many cases the probe element used for probing has approximately 1 fF per 1,000^(th) of an inch (25.4 microns per 1,000^(th) of an inch). The elongate “wire-like” conductive probe element of Gleason et al. is approximately 250 microns in length and accordingly has approximately 10 fF of capacitance. The amplifier has approximately another 10 fF thereby presenting approximately 20 fF to the device under test.

A probe that includes an amplifier implemented in silicon is provided by G. G. B. Industries of Gillette, N.J. as Model 34A. The probe includes an elongate “wire-like” conductive probe element that is approximately 3,000 microns in length, thus imposing at least approximately 120 fF in capacitance at 3 GHZ. The amplifier has approximately 10 fF, thereby imposing approximately 130 fF to the device under test. The probe includes a pair of adjacent lines extending partially along the probe element having a “guard potential”. However, the capacitance of the 34A probe by G. G. B. Industries tends to significantly increase in capacitance as the frequency increases above 3 GHZ because the phase of the guard conductors becomes out of phase with the signal conductor (probe element).

The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a probe, an active circuit, a flexible interconnect, and a supporting structure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a probe in contact with a device under test.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bent-tip probe in contact with a device under test.

FIG. 4 illustrates a probing element.

FIG. 5 illustrates a sacrificial substrate with a depression therein.

FIG. 6 illustrates another probe, an active circuit, a flexible interconnect, and a supporting structure.

FIG. 7 illustrates yet another probe, an active circuit, a flexible interconnect, and a supporting structure.

FIG. 8 illustrates yet another probe, an active circuit, a flexible interconnect with a bend therein, and a supporting structure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a frequency response.

FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic and signal path on a probe for a passive type probe.

FIG. 11 illustrates a probe a structural element.

FIG. 12 illustrates a probe with a flexible element.

FIG. 13 illustrates a probe with a strain gage.

FIG. 14 illustrates a probe with a vibration sensor.

FIG. 15 illustrates a probe with a reflective element.

FIG. 16 illustrates a differential probe.

FIG. 17 illustrates another differential probe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Active element based probes, such as those which include a high input resistance and/or low input capacitance amplifier circuit, tend to be suitable for probing circuitry where the addition of a capacitance on the order of approximately 100 fF for devices that are exceptionally small does not present a significant load to the circuitry. Most amplifier circuits include external power using a bias circuit, while passive circuitry may potentially be used. However, in some circumstances the loading of a circuit with 100 fF is simply unacceptable for effective measurements. For example, in some cases an opening is machined on the back side of a wafer that includes circuitry thereon to permit access to a conductive trace interconnecting a pair of transistor elements together, such as a pair of gates. With the continual shrinking of the size of the gate of transistors, together with the decrease in the amount of current used for switching the transistors, the loading of the circuit with a probe having on the order of approximately 100 fF presents an unacceptably large load to the circuit. The capacitive load on the circuit is sufficient that the edge transitions of signals are slowed down significantly, even to the point that the measurements obtained are nearly meaningless since the desired switching time is significantly faster than the loaded circuit can accommodate.

One technique to decrease the capacitance presented to the device under test is to significantly reduce the length of the elongate probing element. For example, the elongate probing element may be reduced from approximately 250 microns (Gleason et al.) or 3000 microns (G. B. B. device 34A), depending on the probe design, to under 150 microns or 2000 in length. This reduces the capacitance loading on the device under test a corresponding amount. Unfortunately, merely reducing the length of the elongate probing element results in a significantly stiffer probing element. The stiffer probing element has both a greater tendency to break the probe if pressed too hard against the device under test and a greater tendency to damage the device under test if pressed too hard because of its inability to bend. Accordingly, merely shortening the probing element is a somewhat ineffective solution because the resulting device has minimal compliance.

Referring to FIG. 1, in order to permit more effective probing of devices under test with relatively short elongate probing elements the present inventors came to the realization that the compliance for effective probing may be, at least partially, provided by a flexible interconnection between the active element and the supporting structure. The structure may be any suitable support, such as for example, a substrate or shelf of a coaxial cable. In this manner, the length of the elongate probing element may be reduced, such as to 2000 microns, such as to 1000 microns, such as to 500 microns, such as to 200 microns, such as to 150 microns, such as to 100 microns, such as to 75 microns, or more preferably such as to 40 microns or less which reduces the capacitance of the elongate probing element while simultaneously providing additional compliance with the device under test as a result of the flexible interconnection. The flexible material is preferably polyimide, although any suitable material may be used. Depending on the length of the probing element, the resulting capacitance of the probe, as viewed by the device under test, is preferably 18 fF (including 10 fF active element) or less, is thus more preferably 16 fF (including 10 fF active element) or less, is thus more preferably 14 fF (including 10 fF active element) or less, and is thus more preferably 12 fF (including 10 fF active element) or less. The capacitance of the active element may be potentially reduced depending upon the particular amplifier design used. Accordingly, the input capacitance imposed on the device under test is preferably less than 20 fF (including 10 fF active element). The amplifier may be characterized as having an input capacitance of less than 1000 fF, or less than 500 fF, or less than 250 fF, or less than 50 fF, of less than 25 fF and more preferably less than 10 fF. The amplifier circuit preferably has in input impedance substantially greater than 50 ohms, preferably more than 1,000 ohms, preferably more than 100 K ohms, more preferably more than 250 K ohms, more preferably more than 500 K ohms, more preferably an input impedance of more than 1 M ohms, and an output impedance on the order of 50 ohms, preferably less than 1,000 ohms. In many cases, the input impedance is preferably greater than the output impedance, and more preferably the input impedance is 100 times greater than the output impedance, and more preferably the input impedance is 1,000 times greater than the output impedance, and more preferably the input impedance is 10,000 times greater than the output impedance. The output of the amplifier circuit may include a current driver to the transmission line, which may have a high resistance and a low capacitance.

The flexible material preferably supports traces thereon, either on the upper surface or the lower surface, from the supporting structure to the active element. The traces may likewise be encapsulated within the flexible material. Typically the supporting structure provides a type of transmission structure, such as for example, a coplanar waveguide or a strip line configuration. In order to maintain the signal integrity to the active element, the flexible material may include a transmission structure, such as for example, a coplanar waveguide or a strip line configuration. Preferably, the type of transmission structure provided by the flexible material is of the same general class as that provided by the supporting structure.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the elongate probing element is typically oriented at an acute angle with respect to the device under test so that the probing element has at least some limited compliance (i.e., bending) when probing the device under test. In addition, the probing element is also typically brought into contact with the device under test in a partially horizontal motion so that the end of the probing element scrubs the surface of the wafer and then impacting the side of the pad or otherwise scrubbing across a portion of the pad. In this manner, it is easier to make contact between a small probe tip and a small contact portion under conditions that include some vibrations. Unfortunately, a long elongate “needle-like” probing element tends to bend after repeated contacts resulting in a “curled” end portion, as illustrated in FIG. 3. After the end portion becomes sufficiently curled, the probe does not effectively stop when impacting the side of the pad, but rather tends to skate up onto the pad, slide across the pad, and off the pad. The inability to effectively stop when impacting the side of the pad makes probing difficult.

The present inventors considered the existing probes that included an amplifier circuit interconnected to an elongate conductive probing element and determined that to impose a small capacitance, the traditional use of an elongate substantially cylindrical wire may be replaced by a more structurally suitable probe element having a different geometry. Referring to FIG. 4, the probe structure preferably has a generally tapering tip portion over at least 25% or more, 35% or more, 50% or more, 75% or more, and preferably 100% of the length of the probe element. The tapering preferably continually decreases in cross-sectional area along a majority, more preferably at least 75%, and more preferably at least 100% of the respective tapered portion.

The probe element may be constructed using any suitable fabrication and/or machining process. However, to create a probe element that has uniform structure shape in a repeatable manner a sacrificial substrate is preferably used, as shown in FIG. 5. The sacrificial substrate is preferably copper or aluminum, although any suitable material may be used. A depression with a desirable shape may be created in the substrate using a dimpling tool (preferably made of material harder than the sacrificial substrate) or otherwise a mask together with a chemical etch. In some cases, the chemical etch will create a depression in the sacrificial substrate along the grain boundaries. After creating a suitable depression, a conductive material is formed in the depression, such as nickel, aluminum, rhodium, or other conductive material(s). If desired, a layer of rhodium may be deposited within the depression followed by other conductive material to fill the depression. It would be noted that rhodium has the characteristic that it does not tend to stick to material being probed and materials tend to slide on it rather than gall. The top of the sacrificial substrate is lapped to remove excessive conductive material and form a flat planar surface. A temporary material may be deposited or otherwise provided over the conductive material, if desired. The sacrificial substrate is then removed from the conductive material and temporary material (if included) using a chemical or other technique. The probing elements formed in this manner may be produced in an efficient manner using a plurality of depressions in the same sacrificial substrate. In addition, a variety of different shapes of depressions maybe included on a single sacrificial substrate to create different probe elements, each of which may have different electrical characteristics. Also, the probe elements formed in this manner tend to be substantially uniform.

After repeated use, the tip of the probe elements illustrated in FIG. 4 do not tend to bend with such associated limitations previously described, but rather the tip of the probe elements tends to break or otherwise fracture. After the tip portion of the probe element breaks, the resulting probe element is slightly shorter. However, a probe element with a portion broken away still tends to maintain a relatively sharp probing tip, and therefore maintains suitable structure for probing the device under test. It is also noted that the probe element does not bend, or incur any substantial flexing, under normal probing conditions unlike the substantial flexing that “needle-like” probes incur. Normal probing conditions may be defined as 10 grams of pressure or less, 5 grams of pressure or less, 2 grams of pressure or less, 0.5 grams of pressure or less, or otherwise, as desired.

A couple techniques to interconnect an active circuit with a flexible material to a substrate are illustrated, although other techniques may likewise be used, as desired. The wafer probe shown in FIG. 6 comprises a substrate support 10 of ceramic material. The substrate is generally triangular when viewed from above, and is attached at its base to a mounting block 12. At its apex, the substrate 10 carries a flexible material 14, and a monolithic integrated circuit amplifier 16. The amplifier may be a three stage source follower circuit implemented in gallium arsenide having an input impedance of about 100 megohms in parallel with about 10 fF. The amplifier has power supply terminals 18 that are connected through microstrip conductors 20 and 50 ohm resistors 22 to the terminals 24 of a D. C. voltage supply 26. The substrate 10 carries at its underside a continuous layer 28 of conductive material which is grounded by way of the block 12. The microstrip conductors 20 and the layer 28 constitute two power-supply transmission lines each having a characteristic impedance of 50 ohms. The transmission lines are terminated in their characteristic impedance by the resistors 22. By-pass capacitors 30 are connected between the terminals 24 and the mounting block 12. Therefore, perturbations in the power supply voltages are not transmitted to the amplifier.

A third microstrip conductor 40 is connected to the output terminal of the amplifier 16 by a wire 42 and extends between the amplifier 16 and the central conductor of a coaxial connector 44. The conductor 40 and the layer 28 together constitute a third transmission line. The coaxial connector is used for connecting the third transmission line to a measurement and display instrument, such as a sampling oscilloscope or network analyzer. The amplifier also has an input terminal 46, which is connected to a conductive probe element 50. The probe element 50 may comprise, for example, a wire or non-wire element that is attached to the input terminal of the amplifier 16.

In use, the illustrated probe is mounted by way of the mounting block in a probe station, and the probe is positioned so that the probe element 50 contacts a node of interest in a circuit under test. A ground connection and other power supply voltages are connected to the circuit under test by way of other probes of conventional design. Signals developed at the node of interest are applied to the input terminal of the amplifier 16 by way of the probe element 50 and are transmitted by way of the output terminal, the wire 42, traces on the flexible material, the transmission line 40 and the connector 44 to the measurement and display instrument (not shown). Through use of the amplifier 16, a high input impedance is presented to the node of interest, and accordingly the operation of the circuit under test is not perturbed significantly by the testing operation. The amplifier 16 preferably has a relatively low output impedance and accordingly is well matched to the transmission line 40.

As noted previously, the input impedance of the amplifier 16 is very high. This stems from the fact that the value of G_(m)*Z_(g) for a field effect transistor implemented in gallium arsenide (where G_(m) is the transconductance of the transistor and Z_(g) is its gate impedance) is high. G_(m)*Z_(g) is proportional to F_(t), or the frequency for unity current gain, of the transistor.

Because the input impedance of the amplifier 16 is high, the inductance of the probe element 50 does not degrade significantly the input signal applied to the probe element. Nevertheless, in order to minimize reception of stray signals by virtue of the probe element 50 acting as an antenna, the length of the probe element should be kept to a minimum. It is therefore desirable that the probe element is relatively short. Consequently, the inductance and the capacitance of the probe element is small and does not contribute to signal degradation.

Because the amplifier 16 has a high input impedance, the conductor that connects the circuit under test to ground can have quite a high impedance and therefore can be quite long. This makes it possible for the ground connection to the circuit under test to be made by way of a separate probe, rather than by way of a second probe element carried by the substrate 10.

Referring to FIG. 7, another probe structure is illustrated. The probing element of FIG. 4 is supported by the active circuit. The active circuit is interconnected to the substrate, which typically has a dielectric constant of about 10, by the flexible interconnection. The active circuit is preferably fabricated in a silicon or gallium arsenide material. The material preferably has a tapered edge under the connection with the probing element. In this manner the tapered edges reduces the capacitance by further limiting the amount of material under the probing element. The probing element may be secured by epoxy, which typically has a dielectric constant between 4 and 5.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is not restricted to the particular probe head that has been described and illustrated, and that variations may be made therein. For example, instead of microstrip transmission lines, with the signal and ground conductors on opposite sides of the substrate 10, coplanar transmission lines may be used. Alternatively, a microstrip transmission line may be used for connecting the output terminal of the amplifier to the measurement instrument. In this case, the amplifier 16 would be mounted near the end of the microstrip transmission line and wires would be used to connect the amplifier to the bias supply 26. The by-pass capacitors 30 would be mounted near the amplifier. It is not essential to the invention that a monolithic integrated circuit be used for the amplifier 16, since a hybrid circuit may be used instead. For example, a split band amplifier may be used. Also, the active circuit may be interconnected to a co-axial cable to which the probing element is supported.

The probe disclosed above has sufficient vertical compliance when probing a pad. In many cases the probe is placed in pressing contact with the edge of the device under test, and vibration of the device under test and/or the probing element results in significant horizontal motion. The flexible interconnection having a rectangular shape tends to result in limited horizontal compliance. In addition, when attempting to make sufficient pressing contact with the edge of the device under test, especially with vibrational movement, the force imposed on the probing element is significant. In order to increase the lateral compliance and decrease the pressure exerted on the probing element when coming into pressing contact with the edge of a device under test, the flexible material includes a bend therein, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Other configurations and structures of the flexible material may be used to provide an increased (or 1.5× or more, 2× or more, 4× or more, 6× or more, 8× or more, or 10× or more) lateral compliance and/or decrease in pressure exerted than would have occurred if the material was simply flat rectangular.

Another configuration that may be implemented is replacing the active circuit with a primarily resistive element fabricated on the semiconductor material (e.g., gallium arsenide, silicon). The resistive material has a resistance significantly greater than a traditional 50 ohm resistive probing element, such as for example, 500 ohms, 1,000 ohms, 2,500 ohms, and 5,000 ohms. The significant resistance lowers the current drawn from the device under test. The resistive material also presents a low capacitance to the device under test, such as for example, less than 25 fF, less than 15 fF, less than 10 fF, and less than 5 fF. The relatively low capacitance reduces the loading on the device under test. In some implementations, the resistive element may be supported by a substrate and be relatively small in value, such as for example, less than 10,000 ohms, less than 5,000 ohms, less than 2,500 ohms, and less than 1,000 ohms, while preferably being greater than 100 ohms, 250 ohms, and 500 ohms. As it may be observed, using a resistive element has many advantages, such as one or more of the following, passes high frequencies, has limited loading on the device under test, does not need a bias circuit, has no voltage offsets, and is limited by the power carrying capacity of the resistive element.

It is also noted that using a passive element, such as a resistor, also tends to reduce issues surrounding electrostatic discharge, linearity of the response, increases usable bandwidth, increases the useful voltage range, and is more readily fabricated.

Referring to FIG. 9, the performance characteristics of the active based (and resistive based) probing element has a capacitance that is preferably less than 20 fF, more preferably less than 15 fF, more preferably less than 10 fF between 5 GHz and 20 GHz, and more preferably between 1 GHz and 40 GHZ, and more preferably between 0 Hertz and 40 GHz.

It has been observed that at relatively high frequencies, such as 40 GHz or above, that the loading of a 20:1 probe (950 ohm tip resistor) tends to be dominated by the capacitance of the tip structure, which may be for example 10 fF (1/2 PI/10 fF/40 GHz=400 ohms). This impedance tends to have a somewhat predictable effect on the edge rise times. However, the direct current loading of an internal node of a device under test tends to offset the bias point, and in some circuits with a high internal direct current source impedance may corrupt the circuit behavior despite the ability of the local devices to drive the load with transient voltages.

Referring to FIG. 10, to mitigate this loading effect, or otherwise substantially eliminate this loading effect, a direct current “block” may be introduced, such as on the probe chip (support) or as an element of the coaxial component. However, the ability to measure the direct current levels present in the device under test will be impaired. The ability to measure direct current levels may be maintained by tapping into the signal at the tip with a sense resistor of relatively high resistance, such as for example, 0.05 M ohm to 10 M ohm or more, interconnected by a separate path to a high impedance (e.g., large sense resistor) voltage sensing device. The voltage sensed normally would read the average voltage, which may then be calibrated to the scope's apparent zero voltage level.

In some cases it has been determined that under some probing conditions, such as for probing printed circuit boards, it is desirable to include a probing element that has definable geometry other than a “wire”, such as the probing elements described herein. The probing element is typically supported by a supporting structure, such as a coupon, which is in turn interconnected to a transmission structure, such as a coaxial cable. A flexible structure may be included between the coupon and the transmission structure, if included.

In some cases, the user of the probe may exert excessive pressure on the device under test which likewise typically results in excessive bending of the probe. While excessive pressure may damage the device under test, it is also likely to damage the probe itself thereby rending it inoperative. Referring to FIG. 11, the probe may include a structural element, such as a rigid tube, that acts to inhibit further bending of the probe upon testing a device under test. In this manner, the probe may bend a through a limited range of motion, without the potential of excessive bending. For example, the probe may be permitted to bend through a range of 10%, 20%, 30%, 45% or less with respect to the end of the probe and the length of the transmission structure, such as the coaxial cable. Normally, the reach of the probe tip is less than the structural element so that upon maximum bending the probe tip is protected against being drug sideways and crushed by the structural element.

Referring to FIG. 12, in some cases the structural element will result in decreased visibility of the probe tip and the device under test, normally being viewed using a microscope. A modified structure may include a structural element that includes a material, such as silicone or fabric cone, which folds inward with lateral displacement which permits a pointier probe.

In some embodiments it is desirable to be able to sense the movements of a portion of the flexing of the tip portion or otherwise the flexing of a portion of the probe, as a result of the probe tip coming into contact with the device under test. Referring to FIG. 13, the flexible interconnection may include a strain gage 300 supported thereon. The strain gage 300 provides an indication to the system through a wire 310 of the deflection of the flexible material. Referring to FIG. 14, the flexible interconnection may include a vibration sensor 340 (frequency and/or amplitude) and/or the active circuit includes a vibration sensor 342 (frequency and/or amplitude). The vibration sensors 340 and 342 provide an indication to the system through a wire 344 of the contact of the probe with the device under test. For example, the vibration sensor may include a 30 kHz piezoelectric oscillator. Referring to FIG. 15, the active circuit or flexible interconnection may include reflective material 350 and 352, respectively. Light 360, such as laser light, may be reflected off the reflective material 350 and/or 352. A sensor 362 senses the light reflected from the reflective material 350 and/or 352. Based upon the location that the light is reflected, which relates to the angle of deflection, the system may infer some information regarding the probe contacting the device under test and the strain imposed on the probe and/or device under test.

In this manner, some indication is available of when the probe makes contact with the device under test. In addition, some indication is available of the pressure exerted by the probe with the device under test. In some cases, the operator may exert excessive force by the probe on the device under test, thereby causing damage to the probe or the device under test. In order to alleviate this concern, an indication may be provided to the operator of the device pressure level so that excessive pressure is not exerted by the probe. Further, the system may include automatic controls to inhibit the ability of the probe to exceed some threshold, and thus reduce the likelihood of damage to the probe or the device under test.

Referring to FIG. 16, it is desirable in some embodiments to permit differential probing of multiple devices under test (or a single device with two channels, if desired) by using a plurality of probing elements. For example, the active circuit 400 may include a pair of active elements (or resistive elements) thereon. Each of the elongate probing elements 402, 404 may be interconnected to respective active elements which are interconnected to a respective set of signal paths 406. The active elements are interconnected to the substrate 408 by a flexible interconnection 409. Each signal path may be a single line, or more preferably a ground-signal-ground path which provides improved signal integrity.

Referring to FIG. 17, it is desirable in some embodiments for differential probing to include a plurality of active circuits (or resistive elements) 410 and 412 each of which is supported by a substrate. An elongate probing element 414 and 416, respectively, is interconnected to the respective active circuit 410 and 412. The active circuits 410 and 412 are interconnected to the substrate 430 by a respective pair of flexible interconnects 432 and 434. The active circuits 410 and 412 are interconnected to a respective set of signal paths 420 and 422. The substrates for the two active circuits may be interconnected by a member 440, which is preferably not rigid (albeit it could be) to provide some increased rigidity to the probe and assist in maintaining a suitable alignment of the probe contacts.

The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow. 

1. A probe for testing a device under test comprising: (a) an elongate probing element; (b) an active circuit having an input with a first impedance, of more than 1,000 ohms and less than 1,000 fF, electrically interconnected to said probing element and a second input; (c) a flexible structure interconnecting said active circuit and a supporting structure, such that said flexible structure is the primarily supporting structure between said active circuit and said supporting structure, such that when said probing element comes into contact with said device under test said flexible structure flexes; (d) a transmission structure electrically interconnected to said second input.
 2. The probe of claim 1 wherein said first impedance has a resistance greater than 500 K Ohms.
 3. The probe of claim 1 wherein said first impedance has a resistance greater than 1,000 K Ohms.
 4. The probe of claim 1 wherein said first impedance has a capacitance less than 25 fF.
 5. The probe of claim 1 wherein said supporting structure includes said transmission structure and said flexible structure includes the same class of transmission structure. 